N01010:522
War with the devil, or, The young man's conflict with the powers of darkness,…
War with the devil, or, The young man's conflict with the powers of darkness, in a dialogue discovering the corruption and vanity of youth, the horrible nature of sin, and deplorable condition of fallen man, also, a description of the power and rule of conscience, and the nature of true conversion. : To which is added, an appendix, containing a dialogue between an old apostate and a young professor, worthy the perusal of all, but chiefly intended for the instruction of the younger sort. / By B.K. author of Zion in distress, or The groans of the Protestant church.War with the devil, or, The young man's conflict with the powers of darkness, in a dialogue discovering the corruption and vanity of youth, the horrible nature of sin, and deplorable condition of fallen man, also, a description of the power and rule of conscience, and the nature of true conversion. : To which is added, an appendix, containing a dialogue between an old apostate and a young professor, worthy the perusal of all, but chiefly intended for the instruction of the younger sort. / By B.K. author of Sion in distress, or The groans of the Protestant church.
New York: printed by William Bradford, 1707
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Professor. If thousands fall away it is no more Th•• […] the Scripture shows was heretofore. Thousands of old from Egypt did adventure, And yet […] of them did Canaan enter, They never ••d of Christ a saving taste, Who quite away their seeming hopes do cast; Their hearts, al••, are Rotten and Unsound, Who in Christ Jesus never Sweetness found. But what of this? Shall I my LORD deny, Because that you some Hypocrites espy? Those who do murmur in the Wilderness, The Land of Promise never shall possess. But if they will the gracious LORD revoke, Shall I from thence resolve to slip the Yoke? Because they don't the glorious Lord believe, Shall Caleb think the Land he can't receive, Because so many walk in the' way to Hell, Shall I conclude, that Heaven don't excel The vain enjoyments of an evil World? Or shall with fancies thus my Soul be hurled? To think, because that Swine the grains do choose, And Pearls do tread upon, and them refuse, There is more worth in those base stinking grains Than in those true Pearls which the Merchant gains? Because these silly men have lost their Way, Shall I on purpose therefore go astray? Because that Judas did for thirty Pence Sell his dear Lord, shall I conclude from thence Peter a Fool, who prized his favour so, That for his sake all things he'd under go? ⟨p. 162⟩If fearful Soldiers basely quit the field, Shall valiant Champions therefore strait way yield Most Cowardly unto their treacherous Foe, Whom they assured were to overthrow. If Mariners unskilled in Navigation Are split on Rocks, shall then in the Nation That have that curious Art resolve therefore Never to use the Art of Sailing more? Because the Sluggard sees the Winds do blow, The rain descending with cold Hail and Snow, He doth give o'er, and says, no longer will Remain in the' field his barren Land to till. Shall faithful Husband-men from the like ground, Who have oft times by good experience found, Without they sow, no Harvest they can have; Resolve the painful labour quite to leave? He that won't Plough because of the' Snow and Rain, Shall beg at Harvest, and shall nought obtain. So in like sort, to mind my present case, 'Cause persons void of God's true saving Grace D'Apostatize, as you your self have done, Must I to the' Devil with you headlong run?
Professor. If thousands fall away it is no more Th•• the Scripture shews was heretofore. Thousans of old from Egypt did adventure, And yet of them did Canaan enter, They never d of Christ a saving taste, Who quite away their seeming hopes do cast; Their hearts, al, are Rtten and Unsound, Who in Christ Jsus never Sweetness found. But what of this? Shall I my LORD deny, Because that you some Hypocrites espy? Those who do murmur in the Wilderness, The Land of Promise never shall possess. But if they will the gracious LORD revoke, Shall I from thence resolve to slip the Yoke? Because they don't the glorious Lord believe, Shall Caleb think the Land he can't receive, Because so many walk i'th' way to Hell, Shall I conclude, that Heav'n don't excel The vain enjoyments of an evil World? Or shall with fancies thus my Soul be hurl'd? To think, because that Swine the grains do chuse, And Pearls do tread upon, and them refuse, There is more worth in those base stinking grains Than in those true Pearls which the Merchant gains? Because these silly men have lost their Way, Shall I on purpose therefore go astray? Because that Judas did for thirty Pence Sell his dear Lord, shall I conclude from thence Peter a Fool, who priz'd his favour so, That for his sake all things he'd under go?